That includes support of elders and therapists, cultural programming, addictions programming, and parenting and domestic skills courses.

Staff are available 24/7 to help residents.

Within 30 days of parents moving in, children must also move in.

The program usually lasts about a year, although varies from family to family.

“We’re giving them new skills to become stronger and to become healthier parents and to make healthier choices,” said Fox.

Foxvalley has worked 3 ½ years helping clients in supportive living, and 80 to 90 per cent of the program participants have succeeded in having their children returned to them, said Fox.

“Every human being deserves a chance. It doesn’t matter if you’re a drug addict; it doesn’t matter if you’re panhandling at 7-11,” said Fox. “Everybody needs a chance; everybody needs a place to live.”

Federal and provincial governments have invested $1.8 million in this project.

The City of Regina gave a $210,000 grant and a five-year property tax exemption.

While Foxvalley helps people of all races and nationalities, at least 66 per cent of Saskatchewan children in foster care in 2016 were Indigenous; 3,046 children self-identified as First Nations or Metis, according to the Ministry of Social Services.

Silver Sage board chair Edmund Bellegarde said there are positive outcomes when Indigenous people are included around the table to help lead projects like this.

“It’s critical. Indigenous people have been suffering from generational impacts from Indian residential schools,” said Bellegarde.

“Changing the outcomes for Indigenous people in this country requires Indigenous peoples to be at the table, to be making decisions jointly with all levels of government, so that there is more effective voice.”

The project is called Gloria Jean’s House, after the woman who raised Fox from the time he was a five-year-old in foster care.

She and her husband, Joe Kaiswatum, set Fox on a good path. He hopes he can do the same for families here.

While the project is a positive step, 14 units is not enough to help all the people in Regina who could benefit from this program.

“That’s just a small piece of what’s needed,” said Fox. “I would say probably a good 10 to 15 more of these, maybe more, I don’t know. In saying all of that, it would be nice because a lot of these families, this is what’s needed.”

“It is a small dent. The issues and the needs are far greater than what we’re able to service through these 14 units,” Bellegarde agreed, “but we’re willing and we hope other housing partners, other levels of government, have shown their commitment to this.”

Regina Mayor Michael Fougere said there are incentive programs for First Nations and affordable housing units in the city, but it’s up to the provincial government to plan more projects like this.

“There’s nothing more important for a community than to have safe, affordable housing to stabilize families,” said Fougere.

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